In an age of social networking and video games, Legos may not come to mind when you think fast growing after school activity, but this year more than 170,000 children from 56 countries are expected to participate in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL). What is First Lego League? An alliance between FIRST and The Lego Group that aims to engage children ages 9-16 in playful and meaningful learning while helping them to discover the fun of science and technology.

Vestas, a Denmark-based wind energy company and long-running sponsor of FIRST LEGO League, has renewed its support of the program for an additional three-year period.

“FIRST LEGO League is a perfect match for Vestas,” said Ursula Baekkegaard, Project Leader for Vestas Wind Systems, on the renewal of the multiple-year sponsorship with FIRST. “Young people are the future of this planet and with a strong interest in science and technology, they are also our best source for potential future employees at Vestas in our work in conserving the planet’s natural resources.”

“Vestas represents a growing list of global companies that recognize the value our family of four FIRST programs hold in their workforce development efforts,” said Paul R. Gudonis, President of FIRST. “We know that the younger we can ‘hook’ them, the better chance we have to engage and enrich students with STEM disciplines. We applaud Vestas for acknowledging that the path to promoting innovation lies in programs such as the FIRST LEGO League that makes all of these disciplines relevant in their lives.”

Other sponsors include 3M, Lego, Rockwell Automation and National Instruments.

“Many Vestas employees give of their time and talents to inspire and enrich students with a love of science and technology,” said Anna Maenhout, Director of the FIRST LEGO League.